[Neil C]

Just wondered whether anyone ( Boydie? ) had done this yet.

I'm on Ozone 6 and the upgrade offers run out on the 31st Dec.

https://www.izotope.com/en/account/upgrades/

I'm happy on 6 but like to keep to current version and dont have a need to spend $99..
 
Neil

[DevyE]

D

[Boydie]

I still really like V5

I have a free upgrade to V6 and have it installed but V5 does everything I need and I have found a really nice workflow with it

When I need a little more "analogue warmth" I add a tape simulator - and being able to add 3rd party plugs to V6 is the only thing tempting me to move on to V6

If you already have V6 then there may be better things to spend $99 on IMHO

[shadowfax]

I went for Ozone 7 because it can output mp3 and the new vintage modules are excellent..love it..

[seriousfun]

That output to mp3 is probably worth the upgrade in itself. Its always bugged me that I master my stuff to wav then have to convert it to mo3 for the web sites I upload to. Its always a worry as to what the conversion is doing, but getting it rendered by the mastering program has got to be better, doesnt it?

[Boydie]

What are you using for your DAW?

I find it a much better workflow to add OZONE to my MASTER BUS - after which I have another BUS called "MASTER FADER" where I can do fades without affecting how the signal hits the compressors, limiters etc. before the mix hits the OUTPUTS

This also allows me to add a reference track outputting directly to the MASTER FADER so it bypasses all mastering effects that I am using on my MASTER BUS

I can then export directly out of my DAW in any format I want (CD, WAV, FLAC etc.)

I think PCs are powerful enough these days to handle the mixing and mastering within one project

I rarely output a stereo WAV file to then re-load into a "Mastering" environment

I find it much better to merge my mixing & mastering in one project

If during the mastering phase I discover something I want to change in the mix I simply tweak the mix at the same time as mastering

The "digital age" means we are able to think in different ways and lines between "tracking", producing, mixing and mastering are definitely getting blurred and even though I approach each area with a different mindset I am seeing the process more "as one"

[seriousfun]

Maybe I am old fashioned but I still prefer to seperate the mixing and mastering processes. I find helpful to load up my entire cd of songs into Ozone and then get a nice even sound for each of the tracks so that they sit consistently together.  Just personal pref I guess.

[Boydie]

There is nothing at all wrong with that approach and is probably the best way of doing it for an album / body of work

I guess this is just another sign of the change in the industry where the traditional album concept seems to be changing to a "song at a time" model